Keeping Your Eyes Healthy in Your 40s, 50s, 60s & Beyond | Healthy Aging Month

​Just like you want to keep your body strong as you age, it’s also important to keep your eyes healthy as you get older. Unfortunately, until the fountain of youth is discovered, our eyes may develop some age-related changes like the rest of our body. But it’s helpful to be aware of what to expect and to know what you can do to protect your vision and maintain good eye health.  
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Keeping Your Eyes Healthy in Your 40s

Your 40s are often a busy time. Some people may be juggling the demands of a career and raising a family. But don’t let your eye health take a backseat. Paying attention to vision changes now may help prevent future problems.
 
You might notice a few changes during your 40s. For example, even people who have had 20-20 vision may find themselves having trouble seeing. Presbyopia, which is a worsening of close up vision, often starts to develop sometime after 40. Presbyopia likely occurs due to a gradual hardening and loss of elasticity of the lens.
 
Another issue you may develop as you age is dry eyes. Although dry eyes can occur at any age, it may be more common in your 40s. Women may especially be at risk due to hormonal changes associated with menopause.
 
What Can You Do to Protect Your Eyes & Vision?

• See an Ophthalmologist: According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, adults should have a baseline comprehensive eye exam at the age of 40. A baseline exam will help your ophthalmologist track changes and identify problems early. We also recommend a complete eye examination every 2-4 years throughout your 40s.
• Protect Your Eyes from Injuries: Eye injuries might not be something you think about. But with your busy lifestyle, make sure you’re using the right protective eyewear depending for your activity, hobby, sport, work, or household chores. For instance, wear goggles if you’re using chemicals, protect your eyes while doing yard work, and use the appropriate protective sports eyewear.

• Give Your Eyes a Break: If your work requires you to spend a lot of time in front of a computer, make sure you take sufficient breaks to rest your eyes. Staring at a computer screen all day can lead to eye strain and increase your chances of developing dry eyes.
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Keeping Your Eyes Healthy in Your 50s

While 50 may be the new 30, you may still notice some changes in the way your eyes function. As you move through mid-life, you may notice presbyopia (worsening of close up vision) may get worse. In fact, you might need stronger near-vision lenses. Some people also notice a decrease in night vision, which may occur due to the aging photoreceptors in the eyes. Certain diseases that are more common in middle age, such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, might also affect eye health.
 
What Can You Do to Protect Your Eyes & Vision?

• Focus on Prevention: Stay on top of any medical conditions you may have, as they may affect your vision. For example, keeping blood pressure in check can decrease your chances of developing hypertension retinopathy, which can damage vision, and controlling diabetes can decrease your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.
• Continue to Have Regular Eye Exams: Because of the risk of glaucoma and other age-related disorders, such as macular degeneration and cataracts, we recommend annual eye examinations beginning at the age of 50. These regular checkups are important for identifying any changes in your eye health and vision and monitoring your overall eye health.

• Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays: Over time, UV rays from the sun can increase your chances of certain types of cataracts, macular degeneration, and skin cancer on the eyelids. Be sure you are wearing sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV protection. 

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Keeping Your Eyes Healthy in Your 60s & Beyond

Your 60s may bring changes, such as retirement and new adventures. Whatever you decide to do, you want your vision and eye health to be top notch. It’s essential to be aware of the warning signs of vision problems, such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Talk to your ophthalmologist about any unusual symptoms you have, such as decreased central vision, increased sensitivity to glare, and blurry vision.
 
What Can You Do to Protect Your Eyes & Vision?

• Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: A healthy lifestyle, including eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough rest, is good for your overall health and your eyes.

• Be Aware of Medication Side Effects and How They Can Affect Vision: Certain medications used to treat conditions such as depression, arthritis, and high cholesterol may increase your risk of some vision problems. Talk to your ophthalmologist about any medications you are taking, as well as any medical conditions you have. 

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Regardless of your age, you want to feel and be at your best, and that includes your eyes and vision. But as you get older, you have an increasing risk of developing certain vision problems. Knowing your risks, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, getting regular eye exams, and protecting your eyes from injuries and the sun is a good start. Taking care of your eye health is one more thing you can do to live long and prosper.
 
If you have any questions about your current eye condition, maintaining your eye health, or seeing an ophthalmologist, please call at 508-746-8600 to schedule an appointment.
 
In our next post for Healthy Aging Month, we’ll look at “Recognizing Age-Related Eye Problems Early”. We hope you’ll join us there!